
Here are the announcements for the week, including the Christian Practices (Reflection) piece at the end.
- Parish Directory (Christian Formation)
- The Compline Collects (Christian Practices)
- Soup for All Seasons (Helping Hands)
- Veterans’ Community Dinner (Helping Hands)
CHRISTIAN FORMATION
2018 Parish Directory Update – We have gotten lots more photos and corrections for the directory. Thanks! If you haven’t already checked it, the proof will be in a three-ring binder on the Narthex table again this Sunday. Please take a look and make any edits that are needed. we’d like to have you check the proof and make corrections/additions/deletions as needed. There is a copy in a three-ring binder on the big table in the Narthex. Also, if you have not yet sent us a photo for the directory, it will be very helpful if you can do it. We can even have someone take a quick snap after church. Please send all photos to Susie Harris at allsaints_church@hotmail.com. Thanks.
Bible Study, Wed., Jan. 17 at 10:15 am in the Rath House. This will be our last week in 1st Corinthians. We’ll read and discuss chapter 16. Come for learning, support, friendship, and good conversation. Hope to see you there.
Pilgrim: A Course for the Christian Journey Study Group Mondays, 7-8:30 pm in the Rath House. The topic for the 6-week session is The Bible: “What is it, how was it given to us, and how should we read it? By the end of the six sessions, it is hoped that participants will have learned how to make reading the Bible a part of everyday life, with the ability to read, pray, and listen to what God might be saying, allowing the words to change each participant.” The book costs $9. Questions? Speak to Mother Vicki.
HELPING HANDS
Soup for All Seasons – Home-made soup and applesauce is available in the Parish Hall freezer for purchase ($3/pint, $5/quart). This week’s soup is Chicken Noodle. If you have a family member or neighbor who is ill or shut-in, feel free to take them soup as an outreach. And if you would like to gather with others to help make soup in the Parish House kitchen, please see Barbara Barbeau.
Veterans Community Dinner, Feb. 24 at 5:30 pm - Vets and their families from our local community and from the V.A. in Lyons are invited for fellowship, conversation, and friendship...and a wonderful home-cooked meal in All Saints' Parish House at no charge..
How can you help? Set up, clean up, serving, cooking (side dishes, salads, desserts). And please get the word out and invite any Vets you know! A sign-up sheet for volunteering will go out soon. This ministry is a partnership with our friends in the Christian (Catholic) Community. For more information speak to Kerrie Stepko.
Knitting for Seafarers – Looking for a great outreach project you can do on your own time? Seamen’s Church Institute in Port Newark collects handmade scarves, hats and vests as Christmas gifts for the seafarers who transport our goods across the ocean. Simple patterns are available. Janet Mansfield is the person who heads up the All Saints’ branch of this ministry. Interested? Speak to Janet.
ANNUAL MEETING – SAVE THE DATE
The Annual Parish Meeting will be held next Sunday, February 4 at 11:15 am in the Parish Hall. Child care will be available during the meeting. This is the time when we gather to hear from our parish leadership, elect Vestry members and diocesan convention deputies, and have conversation about our life as a Christian community. Please plan to attend.
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Long Hill Township Historical Society will meet on Thursday, February 1, 2018 at 7:30 pm in All Saints’ Parish Hall. Randy Gaulke (All Saints’ parishioner) will present some of his research on the Meuse-Argonne Offensive (in France) of World War I. It was the largest American offensive of the war against the Imperial German Army. He’ll present a selection of “Then and Now” photos with letters, diaries, etc. written by doughboys who participated in the Great War at/near those locations.
If you miss this presentation, in March Randy will be sharing some of his experiences working as a tour guide on these World War I battlefields. That will take place during coffee hour on a Sunday after Church.
DIOCESAN NEWS
Diocesan Convention meets Friday and Saturday at the Parsippany Hilton. The is the annual meeting of our diocese – part business, part family reunion. Three lay deputies and the clergy from every parish gather for the event. Our deputies from All Saints’ this year are Ellen Lewis, Tom Day, and Jean Kimak. Since we’ll be electing a new bishop in May, we’ll be hearing a report from the Search/Nominating Committee about their work, as well as attending to matters of budget, resolutions, and our common diocesan life. Please keep our Bishop Beckwith, and all the deputies and clergy in your prayers. If you want to follow along with news from convention, you can follow this link https://dioceseofnewark.org/convention , or the diocesan Facebook page – search in FB for @dionewark.
PARISH CALENDAR
1/29 Pilgrim Study Group Rath House, 7:00 pm
1/31 Bible Study Rath House, 10:15 am
2/1 Holy Eucharist Church, 7:00 am
Junior Choir Choir Room, 5:15 pm
Adult Choir Choir Room, 7:30 pm
LHT Historical Society Parish Hall, 7:30 pm
For a full schedule of our buildings check the website calendar www.allsaintsmillington.org.
CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
Compline is the last Office (prayer service) of the day – the Church’s bedtime prayers, found on page 127 of the Prayer Book. It can be prayed with a group, with your family or spouse, or on your own. Compline helps us to put the day away into God’s keeping, and reminds us of God’s love and providence even while we sleep.
The following four Collects are used in Compline – select one of the four at the pray-er’s discretion.
The Collects
Be our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy
defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the
love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the hours
of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and
chances of this life may rest in your eternal changelessness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Look down, O Lord, from your heavenly throne, and
illumine this night with your celestial brightness; that by
night as by day your people may glorify your holy Name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Visit this place, O Lord, and drive far from it all snares of the
enemy; let your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in
peace; and let your blessing be upon us always; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
And in keeping with our Epiphany season, here is a contemporary chant, based on the Isaiah 60:1 – “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has shown upon you,” and sung by Anna Hernandez and Ruth Cunningham: https://youtu.be/MqxRrx2DG0A
Epiphany blessings, Vicki+